Monitoring Mangrove Forest Changes and Estimating Carbon Stock in Bac Lieu, Vietnam From 2014 to 2023 by Using Remote Sensing

Mangrove forests are a critical wetland ecosystem in minimizing <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\text{CO}_{2}$</tex> concentrations in the atmosphere and promoting sustainability. Bac Lieu province, Vietnam, possesses extensive mangrove forest areas. However, mangroves have recently suffered from human activities and climate change, leading to forest degradation and loss. The conventional forest monitoring method is ineffective, especially in large-scale assessments. This study utilized remote sensing to analyze mangrove forest changes and estimate carbon stock in Bac Lieu province from 2014 to 2023 to propose effective management strategies and develop carbon offsets and carbon credits. Results indicate that the Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) algorithm outperforms the Random Forest (RF) algorithm in classification accuracy. Mangrove forest expanded from 5,101 ha in 2014 to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$5,581 \text{ha}$</tex> in 2023, with expansion primarily in the Dong Hai district. The estimated carbon stock fluctuates in a range of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{5 8}$</tex> to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{2 8 0} \mathbf{~ K T}$</tex>, and no significant deviation compared to the field-based estimation method. Land-use conversion to aquaculture and policy constraints are the main causes of mangrove degradation in Bac Lieu Province. To address the challenges facing mangrove ecosystems in Bac Lieu Province, a multi-faceted approach integrating socio-economic, sustainability, and technological strategies is essential.